Catalytic oxidation of hydrocarbons

Abstract

An olefin or a slack wax of 10 to 100 carbon atoms is oxidized by mixing said wax with a salt of an alkaline earth metal in an amount to provide 0.001 to 0.03 weight percent of the alkaline earth metal, the anion of the salt comprising 4 to 36 carbon atoms; heating the mixture to 100 to 180° C.; and supplying to the heated mixture a molecular oxygen-containing gas. The oxidation is conducted in the substantial absence of manganese or cobalt compounds. The oxidized wax may be esterified by reaction with an alcohol. The oxidized wax may be used in a coating composition.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.